Angle connector for electric cable supporting trough systems



Dec. 15, 1953 F. G. W. ULLBERG, JR ANGLE CONNECTOR FCR ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPORTING TROUGH SYSTEMS Filed Nov. l5, 1951 BY NM A TTORNE YS.

Patented Dec. 15, 1953 ANGLE CONNECTOR. FOR ELECTRIC CABLE SUPPORTING TROUGH SYSTEMS Frederick G. W. Ullberg, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., assignor to T. J. Cope, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application November 15, 1951, Serial No. 256,463

6 Claims.

This invention relates to angle connectors for trough units of systems designed for the support of heavy electric cables or the like in telephone, telegraph or power stations.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive connector for uniting the meeting or confronting ends of horizontally and vertically arranged straight-away trough units in systems of the kind referred to, with means capable of sustaining the cables in such manner as to preclude sharp bending thereof and fracture or other injury to the insulation in which the conductors of the cables are embedded.

Other objects and attendant advantages will appear from the following detailed description of the attached drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an angle connector conveniently embodying my invention, in position between and uniting one end of a horizontally-arranged straightaway cable trough unit to the confronting end of a vertically-arranged cable trough unit.

Fig. 2 shows the organization of Fig. 1 in 1ongitudinal section on a larger scale.

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken as indicated by the angled arrows III- III in Fig. 2.

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are perspective views of component parts of the connector.

As herein illustrated, the horizontal and vertical straight-away trough units l and II are fashioned from reticulate material which may be of the expanded metal variety, and the tops of their upstanding longitudinally-extending flanges I2 and I3 are nished off by lap-folded strips I4 and I5 of sheet metal.

The angle connector with which the present invention is more particularly concerned, is designated comprehensively by the numeral i6 in Fig. 1, component parts thereof being sepa-V rately illustrated in Figs. 4, and 6, and respectively designated comprehensively by the numerals I'I, I8 and I9.

Component I'I has a transverse web 22 of reticulate material like that of the trough units I0 and II, the ends of said web being marginally lapped over the cross portions of U-shaped straps 2l and welded or otherwise permanently secured thereto. As shown, the cross portions of the straps 2| are provided along opposite edges with spaced apertures 23 and 24, and their outstanding end portions with apertures 25, 2S in the transverse planes respectively of the first mentioned apertures.

Component I8 has side plates 2l of plain sheet material with bight edges Z'Ia curved to coincide with the curvature of the transverse web 29 of component I'I, said plates being spaced to correspond with the spacing of the side flanges I2, i3 of the trough units I0 and II. As shown, the side plates 2 are joined at the corners by a crosswise bridging bar 29 of angular cross section said bar being welded or otherwise made fast and its horizontal flange is provided with longitudinally-extending rows of spaced apertures 30 for a purpose presently explained. Also as shown, the distal ends of the arms of side plates 2l of component I8 are pierced as at 3l and 32.

Component I9 (of which two are required) is in the form of a U-shaped strap like the end straps of component I'I, and provided with correspondingly-spaced apertures 33, 34 in its cross portion and 35, 36 in its outstanding end portions.

To install the connector, the component il is applied from beneath and the ends of its transverse web 20 are brought into abutment with the corresponding ends of the trough sections It and II which latter are incidentally underlapped marginally by the strap 2 I, and the flanges I2, i3 are outwardly lapped by the end portions of said straps. Clamp straps I9 are thereupon applied from the sides opposite the straps 2l to correspondingly overlap the marginal portions of the trough unit ends and of the transverse web of the connector, whereupon securing bolts or rivets 31 are passed through the then registering apertures in the straps and through interstices of the interposed margins of the trough and of the web, as will be readily understood from Figs. 1-3.

To prevent sharp bending of the cables C, shown by broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3, at the regions of transition from the horizontal to the vertical, I have provided hangers in the form of hooks 38 whereof the Shanks are selectively engageable upwardly through the apertures 30 in the cross bar 29 extending between the side plates 2'I of component I 8 of connector I5. By means of stop nuts 39 threadedly engaged upon the protruding upper ends of the shanks of the hooks 38, it is possible to adjust the latter up and down individually as may be required. Slings or grips 40 (see Fig. 2) applied to the vertical runs of the cables C below the bends of the latter, are connected to the hooks 38 through the medium of suitable links designated 4I. It is to be particularly noted that the apertures 30 in the cross bar 29 are so located as to prevent the portions of the cables C within the confines of the trough unit II from contacting with the transverse web 20 or the side plates 2l of the connector. Accordingly, in this way, injury to the cables, by sharp bending or abrasion, is effectively avoided.

I claim:

1. An angle connector for interposition between confronting ends of horizontallyearranged straightaway `trough runits having side anges, said connector comprising a rounded transverse metallic web component; and a separable component having parallel side members of angular configuration fashioned from solid stiff sheet metal whereof the bights are curved to coincide with the rounding of the web component and spaced to correspond to the .spacing of the side flanges of the trough units, and a rigidly united cross bar connecting the angle corners of the side members.

2. An angle connector for interposition between confronting ends of horizontally and vertically-arranged straightaway trough units, said connector having a rounded transverse web portion, parallel side members of angular configuration fashioned from solid stiff sheet metal whereof the bights are curved to coincide with the rounding lof the web portion and spaced to correspond with `the spacing of the side iianges of the trough units, a rigidly united cross bar connecting the angle corners of the side mem- `bers; and cable hangers adjustably suspended from the cross bar.

3. An angle connector for interposition between confronting ends of horizontally and vertically-arranged straightaway trough units, said connector having a rounded transverse web portion, parallel side members of angular configuration fashioned from solid stiff sheet metal whereof the bights are curved to coincide with the rounding of the web portion and spaced to correspond with the spacing of the side anges of the ,trough units, a rigidly united cross bar connecting the angle corners of the side members, and hanger hooks for suspension of individual cables, the Shanks of the hooks being selectively engageable upwardly through spaced apertures in the cross bar and provided at their upper 4 protruding ends with stop nuts for vertical adjustment of the hooks.

4. An angle connector for interposition between confronting ends of horizontally and vertically-arranged straightaway trough units fashioned from reticulate material, said connector comprising a component with a rounded transversely web of reticulate material and underslung U shaped straps with cross portions marginally overlapped by and .attached tothe ends of the transverse web; a component with parallel side members of angular conguration fashioned from stiff sheet metal and rigidly united at corners by a cross bar, the bights of said plates being curved to coincide with the rounding of the web of the first component, and the ends of the arms yof'said plates coinciding with the ends of vsaid web so 'as 'to be overlapped to a corresponding extent-by the upstanding ends of the straps when the components are placed with the ends-of the cross web and the ends of the legs abutting the corresponding ends of the bottoms and the side flanges of the vtrough units; and smaller U shaped clamp straps corresponding to the straps of the first component Vand placed Iover the abutted edge margins of the-transverse web of said rst component for passage of securing means throughthe mutually overlapping portions of the trough sections andthe connector.

5. An angle connector vaccording yto vclaim 4, further including cable hangers adjustably suspended from the cross bar joining the side plates of the connector.

6. An angle connector vaccording `to claim 4, further including hanger Vhooks for Vsuspension of individual cables, the shanks of `said hooks being selectively engageable upwardly through spaced apertures in the cross'bar and-providedat their upper protruding ends with vstop nuts for the purposes of vertical adjustment of the hooks.

FREDERICK G. W. ULLBERG, J n.

References Cited Vin the file of this patent UNITED vSTATES 'PATENTS Number Name `Date 444,578 Jackson Jan. 13, 1891 2,005,572 Vass Y June 18,1935 2,442,929 Marino `June 8, 1948 

